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Home / Equine Research Bank / Vet Sci / A Systematic Review of Current Applications of Fecal Microbi...
Veterinary sciences2023; 10(4); doi: 10.3390/vetsci10040290

A Systematic Review of Current Applications of Fecal Microbiota Transplantation in Horses.

Abstract: Fecal microbiota transplantation (FMT) is a technique involving transferring fecal matter from a healthy donor to a recipient, with the goal of reinstating a healthy microbiome in the recipient's gut. FMT has been used in horses to manage various gastrointestinal disorders, such as colitis and diarrhea. To evaluate the current literature on the use of FMT in horses, including its efficacy, safety, and potential applications, the authors conducted an extensive search of several databases, including PubMed, MEDLINE, Web of Science, and Google Scholar, published up to 11 January 2023. The authors identified seven studies that met their inclusion criteria, all of which investigated the FMT application as a treatment for gastrointestinal disorders such as colitis and diarrhea. The authors demonstrated that FMT was generally effective in treating these conditions. However, the authors noted that the quality of the studies was generally suboptimal and characterized by small sample sizes and a lack of control groups. The authors concluded that FMT is a promising treatment option for certain gastrointestinal disorders in horses. Nevertheless, more research is required to determine the optimal donor selection, dosing, and administration protocols, as well as the long-term safety and efficacy of FMT in horses.
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Publication Date: 2023-04-13 PubMed ID: 37104445PubMed Central: PMC10141098DOI: 10.3390/vetsci10040290Google Scholar: Lookup
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Summary

This research summary has been generated with artificial intelligence and may contain errors and omissions. Refer to the original study to confirm details provided. Submit correction.

This research paper explores the use of Fecal Microbiota Transplantation (FMT) as a treatment for gastrointestinal disorders in horses. The authors have reviewed multiple studies focusing on its effectiveness, safety, and potential applications.

Overview of the Research

  • In their research, the authors aimed to review the current literature on Fecal Microbiota Transplantation (FMT) specifically in horses. FMT involves the transfer of fecal matter from a healthy donor to a recipient.
  • The primary goal is to restore a healthy balance of microbiome in the recipient’s gastrointestinal tract, which has potentially been disrupted due to various medical or physical reasons. So far, it has been used to treat gastrointestinal disorders, such as colitis and diarrhea.
  • To conduct their systematic review, the researchers used several scientific and scholarly databases, such as PubMed, MEDLINE, Web of Science, and Google Scholar, to find relevant studies on this topic.

Findings from Reviewed Studies

  • The authors identified a total of seven studies that matched their inclusion criteria – i.e., focusing on the application of FMT in treating horses’ gastrointestinal disorders.
  • The results consistently showed that FMT was largely effective in treating these conditions. However, the authors also noticed several limitations of these studies, including small sample sizes, no control groups, and overall suboptimal quality.

Conclusions Derived from the Research

  • Despite the limitations, the authors concluded that FMT presents a promising treatment option for specific gastrointestinal disorders in horses. It offers hope for an alternative, non-pharmaceutical treatment for such conditions, fostering horses’ health and well-being.
  • However, they also stressed the need for more comprehensive research in this area to determine the effectivity of protocols for donor selection, dosing, and administration. Moreover, long-term safety and efficacy of this treatment method also have to be thoroughly investigated.

Cite This Article

APA
Tuniyazi M, Wang W, Zhang N. (2023). A Systematic Review of Current Applications of Fecal Microbiota Transplantation in Horses. Vet Sci, 10(4). https://doi.org/10.3390/vetsci10040290

Publication

Veterinary sciences
ISSN: 2306-7381
NlmUniqueID: 101680127
Country: Switzerland
Language: English
Volume: 10
Issue: 4

Researcher Affiliations

Tuniyazi, Maimaiti
  • Department of Clinical Veterinary Medicine, College of Veterinary Medicine, Jilin University, Changchun 130062, China.
Wang, Wenqing
  • School of Veterinary Science, The University of Queensland, Gatton, QLD 4343, Australia.
Zhang, Naisheng
  • Department of Clinical Veterinary Medicine, College of Veterinary Medicine, Jilin University, Changchun 130062, China.

Conflict of Interest Statement

The authors declare that they have no conflict of interest.

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Citations

This article has been cited 2 times.
  1. Long AE, Pitta D, Hennessy M, Indugu N, Vecchiarelli B, Luethy D, Aceto H, Hurcombe S. Assessment of fecal bacterial viability and diversity in fresh and frozen fecal microbiota transplant (FMT) product in horses. BMC Vet Res 2024 Jul 10;20(1):306.
    doi: 10.1186/s12917-024-04166-wpubmed: 38987780google scholar: lookup
  2. Linnehan BK, Kodera SM, Allard SM, Brodie EC, Allaband C, Knight R, Lutz HL, Carroll MC, Meegan JM, Jensen ED, Gilbert JA. Evaluation of the safety and efficacy of fecal microbiota transplantations in bottlenose dolphins (Tursiops truncatus) using metagenomic sequencing. J Appl Microbiol 2024 Feb 1;135(2).
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